- VPN Trust Initiative (VTI) warns UK against restricting VPNs
- Group argues that treating VPN as a ‘loophole’ exposes children to ‘greater harm’
- The consultation “Growing up in an Online World” is open until May 26, 2026
The debate over children’s online safety in the UK has reached a boiling point. The cybersecurity industry is drawing a line in the sand as a leading coalition of VPN providers warns that restricting access to privacy tools will ultimately do more harm than good.
Anyone using the best VPN to protect their web traffic already knows that these tools are essential for digital hygiene. However, the VPN Trust Initiative (VTI), an industry-led consortium operating under the i2Coalition, whose members include companies such as NordVPN, Surfshark and ExpressVPN, has published a coordinated statement on the UK government’s consultation on children’s online safety, warning that lawmakers are ignoring this reality.
The ongoing government consultation ‘Growing up in an online world’ is exploring ways to enforce age restrictions on social media. But privacy advocates are raising the alarm, with VTI arguing that limiting access to critical digital safety tools could inadvertently expose children to greater online harm.
This pushback comes shortly after we took a closer look at the UK’s online safety survey and found that the government’s framework largely treats VPNs as a “loophole” to bypass age verification, rather than legitimate security software.
VTI’s protest comes on the same day that Proton founder and CEO Andy Yen warns that the global age verification push will lead to “the death of online anonymity.”
A complete misunderstanding of security.
The VTI statement leaves no room for ambiguity and fiercely criticizes the government’s characterization of privacy software.
“Treating VPNs primarily as a ‘loophole’ is a complete misunderstanding of their role,” VTI stated in its response, noting how the same encrypted technology used to protect corporate and government networks helps people protect their own privacy and safety, including children.
“Policies that weaken or restrict VPNs risk reducing the online security of the very users these proposals are intended to protect, without offering commensurate benefits,” adds the VTI.
The irony of this regulatory double standard has not gone unnoticed.
A recent TechRadar investigation revealed that the UK government spends millions on VPNs to protect its own communications. This, as the House of Lords and Ofcom regulators consider additional measures that could restrict children’s access to exactly the same technology.
According to VTI, treating these tools differently depending on who uses them ignores the fundamental reality of Internet security.
Protecting the most vulnerable
For the average consumer, a virtual private network encrypts Internet traffic and masks IP addresses. While this can sometimes be used to bypass geoblocks, its primary function is to keep personal data out of the reach of hackers, scammers, and aggressive online trackers.
The VTI was quick to highlight that younger generations actually need these protections as much as adults. By framing privacy software as a threat to children, regulators risk removing a vital layer of defense for those who need it most.
“Families and young people also trust VPNs,” notes the VTI.
“Students use them to access university networks securely from home and on public Wi-Fi. Young people use VPNs to reduce their exposure to tracking, scams, and harassment. Vulnerable teens, including LGBTQ+ youth, children experiencing domestic abuse, and those seeking sensitive health information or counseling, often rely on privacy tools to explore the Internet safely.”
As the UK continues to debate how to enforce its Online Safety Act, the wider tech community remains deeply concerned. By attempting to child-proof the Web through weakened encryption and restricted software, regulators may ultimately break the very mechanisms that keep everyone safe.
